Saturday, 28 April 2012

Flat Chance - 20 to follow this summer

Finally turning my mind to the flat. In the week before the first classics of the season, these twenty to follow indicate a belated start, to be honest. But I'm finally getting down to business after a soggy, partially successful Punchestown. Looking forward to Sandown this afternoon, where Dover's Hill can end my jumps campaign on a high note. A breakdown of the 40TF campaign will follow at some point soon.

In the meantime, here a those twenty flat-trackers to see me through to Autumn:

Aazif - John Dunlop
Encouraging reappearance at Newmarket the other week in a race that wouldn't entirely have suited. Seen as a Cup horse in time and has a "likeable way of galloping" according to my adviser.

Bear Behind - Tom Dascombe
Sprinter who, as a three year old, looks like he may hold his own against older horses. First past the post in a race later awarded to Hamish McGonagall at Musselburgh. Decent 2nd at Sandown yesterday amongst his own age group.

Beggars Banquet - George Baker
Being quietly brought along by a trainer with a growing reputation and should be interesting to follow when earning his handicap rating next time out.

Born To Sea - John Oxx
Three-parts brother to Sea The Stars and the first hype horse in this list. Blistering debut performance on quick ground. Found out next time on softer going (and later found to be lame), but will surely be mustard given his favoured conditions.

Hoof It - Mick Easterby
Lovely, gutsy sprinter who showed massive improvement last year and sure to be a big player in Grade 1s at 5f and 6f this season.

Iron Step - Nicky Vaughan
Handicapper who completed a three-timer last back-end, two of them on the all-weather, but has good enough turf form too. Should be interesting this Summer on good ground at around a mile on the basis that there is still more to come.

Jupiter Storm - Gary Moore
A Brighton winner! Won his maiden at the trainer's local track handily and has an entry in the Tattersalls Millions Cup in June. Runner up in that maiden has won since.

Mawasem - Sir Michael Stoute
Given the archetypal tender ride in a Newmarket maiden earlier this month with starting odds of 25-1. Finished comfortably enough and should some seamless late progress. One to be on the right side of later in the season.

Mazeydd - Roger Varian
Varian had a good debut season last year, very consistent except when I backed his horses. This one looks a progressive sort for middle distances. Has form on good-soft.

Mince - Roger Charlton
Looks useful, despite heavy ground defeat to Ballesteros last season. That one has a real preference for bad ground and Mince is taken to progress well on a decent surface. Sprint trips or possibly up to 7f.

Modun - Saeed bin Suroor
A horse that never truly delivered on his potential last year whilst with Stoutey. It remains to be seen whether Suroor is really the man to deliver the goods, but I had to have Modun in this list anyway.

Out Do - Luca Cumani
One of many Cumani potential handicappers that made the long-shortlist. Out Do ran creditably in a big sales race earlier this month, following maidens last year where the form stands up. Will now find suitable targets in the handicap sphere where his trainer excels.

Sea Moon - Sir Michael Stoute
Top horse from a top yard. His most eye-catching performance was in the Great Voltigeur at York when winning powerfully. Interference and bad tactics stymied his chances in the St Leger, but showed at Churchill Downs what a class hose he is when pushing St Nicholas Abbey all the way from a bad draw.

Somethingboutmary - Kevin Ryan
Won an early season maiden well and with jockey Amy Ryan sitting pretty comfortably, left the impression that there was plenty more to come.

Stripped Bear - Tom Dascombe
Behaved badly when favourite for a Wolverhampron maiden, but had previously shown good form on her debut only four days previously. Assuming she learns to settle, she should pick up some races.

Tawaasul - William Haggas
Encouraging late season maiden debut, 2nd behind more experienced horse. Could be anything, as they say, but she's already been given a fancy Coronation Stakes entry.

Temple Meads - Ed McMahon
Great 2-y-o form, but frustratingly off the track all last season with niggles and dithering by the trainer about targets. He finally decided life was too tough for this 3-y-o sprinter and put him away. His appearance in this list is a bigger gamble than many. The darkest of horses.

Thimaar - John Gosden

Hinted at promise last season and began to deliver on that at Kempton earlier this mont when an impressive, staying-on winner of the two-mile Queen's Prize. More to come from a genuine cup horse contender.

Trumpet Major - Richard Hannon
Just loved the way he bolted up in the Craven. He seems to be a bit unfashionable and is easily compared to the stable's Dick Turpin. I like the way this one has progressed.

Welsh Bard - Sir Mark Prescott
Had to have a Prescott handicap scammer in this list. Here's one the fits the profile. Campaigned over trips much shorter than optimum in a short space of time. Will be of interest when stepped up.